World Cup qual. - Scotland held by Norway

Eurosport - Sun, 12 Oct 12:41:00 2008

Scotland drew 0-0 with Norway in a World Cup Group 9 qualifier at Hampden Park, with Chris Iwelumo guilty of a staggering miss.

2008 Scotland-Norway Chris Iwelumo - 0

Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Iwelumo made his debut, aged 30, as a second-half substitute, and booked himself a place in DVD compilation hell with a truly remarkable blunder.

With 64 minutes on the clock, Gary Naysmith crossed low from the left past goalkeeper Jon Knudsen, finding Iwelumo completely unmarked three yards in front of an open goal.

It was the simplest finish imaginable, but somehow Iwelumo failed to set himself and sent the ball wide when such an outcome appeared mathematically impossible.

In truth, Iwelumo should have been given offside, having strayed beyond the last defender, but the linesman's flag stayed down and the goal would have counted.

Under-pressure manager George Burley had opted to play James McFadden as a lone striker, supported from the left and right by Shaun Maloney and James Morrison.

But the downside of his decision not to use a second man up front soon became apparent as McFadden found himself isolated.

The burly likes of Brede Hangeland and Jon Inge Hoiland ensured the Birmingham striker saw little of the ball.

As the home side toiled away, a boisterous Hampden Park crowd became anxious, with last month's defeat in Macedonia having already compromised their hopes of reaching South Africa in 2010.

Scotland's lack of speed in central defence was soon exposed. John Carew is renowned more for his imposing physique than his searing pace, yet time and again he outstripped David Weir and Gary Caldwell to creat opportunities for himself.

As early as the ninth minute he accelerated through the middle with worrying ease, only to be denied by a last-ditch tackle.

Just before the mid-point of the first half he tested goalkeeper Craig Gordon with a low drive from the left corner of the box. Gordon parried and Steffen Iversen blasted the follow-up over.

It took another impressive block to deny the Aston Villa striker on 40 minutes after he ran onto an intelligent knock-down from Fredrik Stromstad.

Although the central midfield trio of Darren Fletcher - captain in Barry Ferguson's absence - Scott Brown and Barry Robson ensured plenty of possession, Scottish chances were at a premium.

Their best chance of the opening period came seconds before the break when McFadden peeled away on the left side and curled a superb cross onto the head of Morrison, who headed over from close range at the far post.

The situation seemed to cry out for attacking reinforcements by Burley, but when Iwelumo came just before the hour, he replaced the deeply frustrated McFadden and Scotland persisted with their flawed 4-5-1.

Barry Robson almost immediately fired a first-time shot left-footed, but it was straight at Norwegian keeper Knudsen - another 30-something debutant.

Iwelumo has been on only eight minutes when his big moment arrived, but the ball somehow ended up in the crowd. It really was the stuff of nightmares.

His error seemed to galvanise the home side, who then enjoyed their best spell of the game, dominating possession and forcing Norway back.

Maloney saw a shot deflected wide after picking up an astute Iwelumo knock-down, then fired just wide from the edge of the box.

Then late nerves set in, as Steffen Iversen, Kjetil Waehler and Carew all went close to nicking a an away win - but a goalless draw was cruel enough for Scotland.

Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 107 - 126 of 126

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. are there any english people left in england or are they all immagrants you say you have best league in world how many english in top league?
    dying empire that us scots won for yous
    italian nationan coach your best domestic managers fergie,and co
    are they english your league has just more £ just now but bubble will burst o whos the pm a scot @#$% your country ha ha ha ha ha ha

    From geo, on Thu 23 Oct 2:03AM

  2. Hi. winterzoe.
    Why do so many Scots move to England?
    Hopefully not to improve their command of basic english grammar.

    JOHN G.

    From JOHN G, on Sun 12 Oct 2:17PM

  3. Im sorry but u dont leave boyd on the bench for no 1.. especially not fletcher and iwelumo.. burleys got to go its a disgrace...

    From ao_ja1981, on Sun 12 Oct 1:38PM

  4. terry butcher next scotland manager?

    From michelle, on Sun 12 Oct 12:24PM

  5. that idiot should never have had a chance on the pitch to miss that sitter...why was Kris Boyd not put in the game???? i am a Celtic fan and i dont like Boyd..but he is the best striker we have in the 18 yard box...Burley has no idea..go back to Ipswich u muppet and take that donkey with u

    From cam m, on Sun 12 Oct 12:03PM

  6. what a miss...I think he is going to be reminded of that miss for a long long time...funny though...right you lot, you can go back to your Scotland v Enland drivel...cheers

    From ricky.carr4@..., on Sun 12 Oct 11:55AM

  7. Mdoyle - subsidising the english? That is so rich. The english exchequer subsidises you lot by over £3000 each every year. How else do you think you can afford your free dentistry and tuition fees? What exactly apart from oil is your economy based on? Because there is only thought to be around 25years of north sea oil remaining. Since your second highest export is shortcake, the future doesnt look rosy. England has invested more in renewable energy that any other european country in the last ten years. Fossil fuels like oil are in decline - nuclear power is the future.
    I personally cant wait until you get independance. You wont have anyone to blame anymore for your inadequacies.

    From MrSyrett, on Sun 12 Oct 11:50AM

  8. Cholesterol anyone?

    From olliep_1977, on Sun 12 Oct 11:48AM

  9. Ha ha, your under educated opinions make me laugh.

    From Mark, on Sun 12 Oct 11:35AM

  10. mrm.doyle - Please do all us English a favour and encourage as many of your breed to vote Yes in 2010 as possible. Then you will not be able to play the victim card anymore which you jocko's love to do about how the nasty english have been so rotten towards you poor scots.

    From neil, on Sun 12 Oct 11:28AM

  11. I think its about time Scotland had independence.

    For too long now you English plebs have been living off the wealth and income generated by the Scottish economy, I would be happy to be a free independent state away from the shackles of ye olde England and their dated monarchy. I am not racist but I am sick to death of the attitude of a small minority of English morons who are so incapable of seeing beyond their own nose to realize that they really do have bigger problems than Scotland, the fact that Boris Johnson is the mayor of London really does reflect on the mentality of the typical English citizen.

    Are there even any English people left in England these days?
    The Scottish economy would be far better if we hadn't been subsidizing you southern workshy freeloaders for the past 400 years.

    From Mark, on Sun 12 Oct 11:23AM

  12. Vote 'Yes' for Scottish independence - The oil has nearly run dry!

    From olliep_1977, on Sun 12 Oct 10:27AM

  13. I can't believe how nasty some people can be.Scotland are our close neighbours and we should show them all due respect.Imagine if we all viewed our next-door neighbours in such a manner,there would be nobody left alive!

    From Perry Neeham, on Sun 12 Oct 10:25AM

  14. thomas.brown32,Try getting an education!!! says you,why do you f****rs get educated at oxford,and am i right in saying there is too many scottish television presenters on our tele,f.off lorraine kelly

    From stephen, on Sun 12 Oct 10:25AM

  15. After reading the post here it only confirms my belief that the English are indeed the most racially prejudice nation on the planet. What other terms do you for other nationalities let me think..........

    Jocks,Packies Chinks ect
    I rest my case
    Try getting an education!!!

    From THOMAS, on Sun 12 Oct 9:56AM

  16. The jocks have done it again. Stick to tossing your caber's in your short skirts Football is for real men
    ,ENGERALD ENGERLAND ENGERLAN!!!!!!

    From steve, on Sun 12 Oct 8:56AM

  17. We should be happy Scotland had drown.... I dream about 4 british teams in WC 2010... :) it'll be great!

    From Marcin, on Sun 12 Oct 8:03AM

  18. arrogant English again an d even a comment from a convict who knows nothing about football. Keep slagging us English but the last laugh may be on you. Michael

    From Michael, on Sun 12 Oct 6:50AM

  19. is'nt it mint how the jocks slate us english but 20 percent of the @#$% born their move to england. Why?

    From Zoe, on Sun 12 Oct 4:24AM

  20. Ha Ha. I'm an Australian and have always found the jock's habit of denigrating England over and above supporting themselves to be be hilarious. I seriously think you'd rather see England beaten in a World Cup final that see Scotland win it and that sums up the mentality of paranoid losers. Concentrate on your own crappy side and stop looking for others to mock and you might do better than your terrible results currently. The bottom ine is that you have terrible players and a terrible national league that doesn't even rate showing on cable TV here. We know that even Ayustralians would see better soccer in our own leagues.

    From pgh200535, on Sun 12 Oct 2:35AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account